122 STATISTICAL EEVIEW — ^JTEW SOUTH WALES. 



The increase of liabilities, therefore, is only £1,827,781, or at 

 the rate of 26 per cent, which compared with the vast increase 

 in the material wealth of the Country, as evidenced by the 

 results of this investigation, ought to inspire us with confidence 

 in the perma^nent stability and elasticity of our resources, and, 

 should I not add, with shame and confusion, for our late short- 

 comings in this behalf. 



Gentlemen, I shall carry this inquiry no further at this time. 

 I have taken you over a large field of observation, but we have 

 only been able to dig uj) the surface, and must leave a large field 

 of investigation unexplored. 



My remarks have been confined to the illustration of the 

 material advancement of the Colony. There is the question as to 

 the social, moral, and educational progress left untouched. 

 The Registrar- General will have the opportunity of enlighten- 

 ing us upon this question, through his shortly expected Eeport on 

 the Census of 1871. 



The figures which I have been endeavouring to explain 

 to you this evening represent the workings of a Society that 

 cannot yet boast of a century's existence. On ■ the 26th 

 of January, 1788, Governor Phillip first moored his boat and 

 hoisted the British flag almost on the spot where we are now 

 assembled. The first thirty years of the Colony's history is 

 wrapped in a good deal of traditionary darkness, and few people 

 care to lift the veil. It is well, perhaps, that it should so be left. 

 In 1821 the light of statistics began to dawn upon her history. 

 New South Wales then numbered 29,783 souls, and enjoyed a 

 revenue of £36,231. In ten years from that date she had in- 

 creased her population to 51,155 souls, her revenue to £121,066, 

 and her import and export trade reached £814,320. 



In 1841 she had increased her population to 149,669 souls, her 

 revenue to £493,980, and her trade to £3,551,385. 



In 1851, after the dismemberment of the Southern Districts, she 

 had increased her population to 198,168 ; but her revenue and 

 her trade suffered by the loss. Her revenue was £406,056, and 

 her trade £3,360,843. 



In the next decade after the dismemberment of her Northern 

 territory she increased her population to 358,278 souls, her 

 revenue to £1,448,610, and her trade to £11,986,394 ; whilst in 

 1871 she had increased her population to 519,182 souls, her 

 revenue to £2,727,404, and her trade to £20,854,540. 



The wealth-producing power of population is, I think, fully 

 exemplified in these figures ; for we shall see that, excepting the 

 one period marked by the dismemberment of Port Phillip, as the 

 population increased so did the power of production, and in an 

 increased ratio. 



